Denver's RTD Sets the Standard in Hybrid Electric Buses

Denver's Regional Transportation District operates a fleet of 36 hybrid electric buses on the 16th Street Mall, each powered by a dual electric and compressed natural gas (CNG) engine. The buses have greater fuel efficiency and produce lower emissions than a typical diesel bus. It is one of the world's largest fleets of advanced heavy-duty alternative vehicles.

Source

Recycle Your Tree and Make a Difference

After the clock strikes 2012 and your ornaments are boxed away, help your tree sprout wings!  The City of Denver provides residents FREE Christmas tree recycling between January 3-13.  Just put your tree out for collection curbside.  In the spring, you can enjoy mulch for your garden made from Christmas trees across the city.  The mulch will be available at the May 5th FREE Mulch Giveaway and Compost Sale.  For more information, click here.

Want to increase the value of your home or office? Go Green.

AUSTRALIA'S valuers have confirmed the hype - going ''green'' definitely increases the value of an office building.

The buildings worth the most are those that have the best energy rating, the Australian Property Institute found in a report it said was the first rigorous assessment of green office buildings in the nation. Buildings with low energy ratings lost value.

The study said office buildings with a five-star NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating Scheme) energy rating created a premium of 9 per cent, while three to 4½ stars delivered a 2 to 3 per cent premium in value. The Green Star rating showed a premium of 12 per cent.

NABERS measures energy and water use in existing buildings, while Green Star evaluates the environmental design and construction of buildings.

The API was the lead group for the study, which was led by Richard Bowman, senior API committee member and a partner in real estate services with Ernst & Young. He headed a panel of experts representing the big estate agents and valuation firms.

The study evaluated 206 NABERS-rated office buildings and 160 non-NABERS buildings in Sydney and Canberra. Of the NABERS-rated buildings, Sydney's central business district accounted for 90, suburban Sydney 91 and Canberra 25. They included premium, A, B and C grade and 97 per cent had an area greater than 2000 square metres.

The analysis used 23 four to six-star Green Star buildings for the ''office design'' and ''office as built'' categories.

The portfolio comprised Sydney CBD (22 per cent), Sydney suburban (39 per cent) and Canberra (39 per cent) and Green Star ratings of four stars (43 per cent), five stars (48 per cent) and six stars (9 per cent).
The study was prompted by concerns about the environmental impact of the property industry. It said buildings contributed up to 23 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions, 40 per cent of energy requirements, 16 per cent of water use, 30 per cent of solid landfill waste, 40 per cent of raw materials and 71 per cent of electricity consumption.

click here for full story

Denver Water Rules

Did you know more than 50 percent of summer water use is on landscapes? Follow Denver Water’s summer watering rules to reduce waste and save money.

In 2011 Denver Water will continue to enforce watering rules*, so please use water wisely.

• Lawn watering is NOT allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. — water during cooler times of the day.
• Water no more than three days per week.
• Do not allow water to pool in gutters, streets and alleys.
• Do not waste water by letting it spray on concrete and asphalt.
• Repair leaking sprinkler systems within 10 days.
• Do not irrigate while it is raining or during high winds.
• Use a hose nozzle with a shut-off valve when washing your car.

*Please note, there are some exceptions to watering rules and how the rules apply to gardening.

Check out the Denver Water Website for more information

Denver Ranks in at #5 for Latest Major Green City Study!

A new study commissioned by the Siemens Corp is putting smiles on the faces of Denver’s clean energy aficionados. The Mile High city is ranked the fifth “greenest” major city in the U.S. and Canada Green City Index, which looks at the environmental performance and policies of 27 cities.

“Our goal with the Green City Index is to identify best practices, advance good ideas and provide a baseline for cities to help them set targets for themselves so that they can serve as role models for others with their innovative policies,” said Alison Taylor, Siemens’ chief sustainability officer for the Americas.

Not surprisingly, San Francisco finished first with an index score of 83.8, followed by Vancouver, New York, Seattle and Denver. Denver scored 73.5 points in the index. We are still not sure how the Big Apple scored ahead of Denver, but we’ll leave that discussion for another time.

The index examined environmental performance and policies in nine areas: CO2 emissions, energy, land use, buildings, transport, water, waste, air quality and environmental governance.

Here is what the report said about Denver: “The city’s strongest categories are energy and environmental governance, where it places first. Its clean and efficient energy policies are among the most robust in the Index, and its environmental governance performance is supported by its green action plan, green management and strong public participation.”

The results of the report also speak to the value of the clean energy and sustainable public policies enacted by Denver officials over the last several years. These folks deserve a pat on the back.

Click here to download a PDF of the report.

Posted by Ann Rascalli

Click here to see the full article at Coloradoenergynews.com

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Help Save Our Planet

With temperatures going up across the globe, glaciers disappearing, and ocean levels rising scientist have developed a measure that shows how much of an impact each person has on the environment. You’ve probably heard the term “carbon footprint”, this is a measure of how much carbon is pumped into the environment based on the amount of energy an individual use.

In well established industrial societies the carbon footprint is much higher than it is in developing countries because industrial societies consume more coal, gas and oil; as an example data shows the United States consume 25% of the worlds energy. This means that our society has a massive carbon footprint.

For every electrical or gas powered device you use or ride in, you contribute to the worlds carbon footprint, this means taking a train, bus, car, boat, your lawnmower, hedge trimmer, leaf blower, refrigerator, range top, microwave oven, your home entertainment center, computer… Well you get the picture, all these systems and devices use energy that is derived mostly from carbon based fossil fuels and as such these energy source when burned produce CO2 and other pollutants that have a negative impact on the environment and our health.

We each also have a carbon footprint impact when we import goods from abroad, due to the fact that an entire infrastructure that consumes massive amounts of energy needs to be created to transport those goods. That’s why it’s always best to buy locally, especially the foods you eat., besides it’s fresher and helps the local economy.

So Here Are A Few Tips To Help You Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Turn off unused electrical devices like home entertainment systems, computers and peripherals using smart power saving power strips.

Determine which appliances like your refrigerator, washer, air conditioner… are energy consuming monsters using an Home Energy Monitor and follow recommended manufactures instructions to help these devices operate more efficiently or replace them with higher efficiency models.

Insulate your home and caulk cracks and crevices, this well save you energy in the winter months by keeping the heat in as well as during the summer by keeping the heat out and preventing your cool air from leaking out of your home. Change your windows or use a high R rated film to minimize infrared infiltration during the summer which causes you air conditioner to work harder.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle! It takes far less energy recycle used products than it does to excavate the raw materials to build new ones. Stop buying bottle water, plastic bottles are made from oil and consume large amounts of energy to produce; on top of that they are harmful to the environment as they do not breakdown over time like organic materials do.

It has also been found the water bottled in plastic containers for an extended period can leach chemicals from the plastic into the water. So while you think you’re drinking healthy fresh water you’re not, buy a quality water filter instead and use a glass or stainless steel vessel to store and consume your water from.

Check out this blog to see the whole article and learn more about our carbon footprint and what we can do to make a difference.

Energy Saving Tip

Wash clothes in cold water. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.

Is There Really a Payoff for doing Energy Saving tricks?

Yes. And Nikki Blessinger knows it. She is the editor of Xcel Energy's Energy e-Magazine and wrote an article on the benefits of saving energy, and saving money wasn't the only one. Follow the link at the end of the article to see Xcel Energy's energy saving video with other great tips and tricks.

Each month, I have the honor of communicating with nearly a million people served by Xcel Energy. Often I receive thank-you notes on the info, tips, rebates, etc. provided viaYour Energy e-Magazine. Occasionally, I receive some not-so-complimentary emails from readers who are frustrated with rate increases and who dismiss our energy efficiency programs as "smoke and mirrors."

Frustration over price increases is a normal, and I would argue, healthy response. We see prices increasing constantly for gasoline, milk and just about anything that requires energy to produce. I guess the question that remains in some minds, is whether or not the practice of taking energy-saving steps in your home or business really pays off. While it would be great if you took my word for it, I think it would be even better for me to share the experiences some of our readers were kind enough to share .   Letter from the Your Energy Mail Box Hello Xcel Energy....Just wanted to let you know about something we did in our new home that seems to have paid off immediately. Last October, my wife and I moved into a 20-year-old home. We got an idea from the office we work in to install motion-sensor light switches in key areas of the home. We put one in the kitchen, one in the hallway and one in the master bathroom. One of the nice features of these switches is that you can also adjust the daytime light sensitivity so the lights don't come on with motion unless the ambient room light is low (near sundown). After just one month our kilowatt hour usage dropped by 100 kWh. It seems feasible that the motion-sensor switches are the main reason for the reduced electricity use. The switches are also adjustable as to how long they stay on after they stop sensing motion. We paid about $18 for each switch and they are easy to install. Sincerely,  Phil from Colorado Comfort Is a Big Payoff And here's a note from another customer, Roy Schewe, who requested an energy audit and as a result made home improvements through Xcel Energy's Home Perfomance with ENERGY STAR(R) program. Here's the note from Mr. Schewe: Utilizing incentives from the Xcel Energy Home Performance program, we bought an ENERGY STAR thermostat. We did the air sealing and added insulation to the attic and replaced all the light bulbs in the house with CFLs. We also sealed up and insulated the crawlspace. Our house is MUCH more comfortable, both in hot and cold weather. We noticed that we didn't need to run the air conditioner as often and the same goes for the furnace. The kitchen floor no longer requires us to wear slippers in the winter! The Good, the Bad, the Energy Efficient There is good news and bad news on the horizon. The bad news, energy prices will most likely continue to rise. The good news, there are many things we all can do to keep our energy bills as low as possible and help improve the comfort of our homes. Following is a list of websites that can help:  Resource Guide to Energy Efficiency ENERGY STAR Energy Savvy for Minnesotans Recharge Colorado ResponsibleByNature.com Tax Incentives for Energy Efficiency Xcel Energy Rebate Programs Email me with your comments (yes - even the less-than-cheery ones) and stories.    Nikki Blessinger, a.k.a. Nikki B. Energy Vampire Slayer is the editor of Your Energy e-Magazine. Currently in a self-prescribed 10-step program for energy addiction, Nikki is on a personal mission to help people like her change their energy-using ways. Click here to see the article and Xcel Energy video

The TRUE Price of Coal

Burning coal for electricity generation is cheap. Or is it? The real cost to the USA's economy through the human health and environmental damage it wreaks has been calculated - and the price is absolutely mind-boggling. 

Why do we burn so much coal for power generation? Supposedly because it's cheap. However, the true price of coal is far, far more than what it's bought and sold for per tonne. The real cost to the USA's economy through the human health and environmental damage it wreaks has been calculated - and it is mind-boggling.

Greenpeace recently hosted a preview of a soon to be published study by Dr. Paul Epstein, Director of Harvard Medical School Center for Health and the Global Environment.

The study looks beyond the already very thorny issues such as subsidies and examines human health and environmental impacts of coal throughout its entire life cycle; based on peer-reviewed studies already published.

The result: the impact of coal in the USA costs a third to over half a trillion dollars annually. Not billion, trillion. Each year.

Breaking that down, based on the 500 billion dollar mark, that amounts to a debt of $1,515 per man, woman and child in the USA, every year in relation to the impacts fossil fuel has on the nation's bottom line.

This figure is based on damages due to climate change; public health damages from nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, mercury and other toxins and emissions; accidents during coal transport; the public health cost in regions such as Appalachia in relation to coal mining; government subsidies and lost value of the land around abandoned mines.

That incredible financial impact makes clean, renewable electricity generating technologies like solar power seem a heck of a lot cheaper - and just the subsidies component of fossil fuels is one of the reasons why solar energy isn't cheaper than what it is today.

If the subsidies that had gone into fossil fuel had been redirected to renewables years ago - after all, the oil and coal companies have been doing quite well for themselves for decades - solar would be far more affordable. Even so, it does show the strength and potential of solar power given that it has come so far already in the face of such competition from fossil fuel.

As mentioned in my post in regard to President Obama's 2011 State of the Unionspeech, perhaps fossil fuels may finally be approaching a final stop on the coal black gravy train ride, as the President wants to divert a big chunk of subsidy cash from coal to clean energy.

However, while that "clean energy" includes solar power, President Obama said it also includes "clean coal". There is no such thing. Clean coal technologies require more energy, therefore more coal, to be mined and burned. Carbon sequestration is still unproven. Filters and scrubbers don't get rid of mercury emissions. Toxic fly ash will be produced in even greater quantities.

Back to the study - the true cost of coal is so great that the study found it conservatively doubles to triples the price of electricity from the filthy fossil fuel per kilowatt hour generated. This real cost makes renewables such as wind energy and solar power along with energy efficiency and electricity conservation, economically competitive *right now*.

It's often argued that fossil fuels are a major employer and so many jobs will be lost if subsidies were cut back and removed. They don't have to be lost as such, they will just change and people in those industries will need support to re-skill (an industry in itself).

It's not a case of killing off fossil fuels and replacing them with nothing; it's about replacing it with greener technologies - and with those will come an abundance ofgreen jobs. Like the computer revolution that created similar unfounded fears, thereal clean energy revolution can provide employment for many.

Let's start hammering a few more nails in fossil fuel's coffin very soon - aside from saving money, the environment that sustains us depends on it.

GES found this article on www.greenlivingtips.com. Visit them to learn more. 

GES is a trusted Snugg Home Colorado Contractor

Green Energy Solutions is a trusted Snugg Home Contractor. Check out Snugg Home Colorado's website.

Great News For Denver

The Mile High Million Launches Trees for Energy Savings program: Click here for article.

What is Air Sealing and why do you need it?

Want to know more about Air Sealing?  It could change your home dramatically.

Green Energy Tip

Try to air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle. You may not even notice a difference while saving energy. 

Check out Denver's first LEED Gold School

More pictures and Information HERE

Be Green When You Clean

Green Cleaning: Learn how to clean your home with Green products you can make yourself.

Thumbtack.com

Need more information on attic insulation and air sealing? Not a problem. Thumbtack.com has made Green Energy Solutions GOLD members on their site and is full of useful information, customer reviews, and FAQs.


Check out our Thumbtack Page!

Visit the BPI Website

"America’s existing housing needs help. Many of the 128 million homes in this country were constructed before modern energy and building codes were established. These homes often suffer from performance problems ranging from inflated energy consumption to poor thermal comfort to indoor air quality issues." 


-BPI (Building Performance Institute) website 


Green Energy Solutions is proud to be certified through the Building Performance Institute (BPI). We are constantly involved in educating ourselves as well as our customers about the latest advancements in energy efficiency technology. 

Rim Joist and Box Sill Insulation

All buildings are are subject to something called the "stack effect". When a building has openings, cracks, or ventilation at the top of the building, and similar ventilation at the bottom, there can be air movement either up or down, through the building. When the outside air is colder (denser) than the inside air, the flow goes out at the top, and in at the bottom. The reverse is true when the the outside air is warmer than the inside air.


One common area for air to come in is in the basement where your first floor meets the basement foundation walls. When you are in the basement looking up, you can see floor joists running across the basement ceiling. Capping those off around the perimeter of your house are rim joists. The sill plate is what those two pieces sit on. The concrete and wood can't form an airtight seal because wood shrinks over time and concrete is never poured perfectly. This causes gaps to become more substantial over time and allows a constant stream of air into the house. 


These problems can be easily fixed by air sealing and insulating the rim joist and box sills. This is most convenient to perform in unfinished basements/crawl spaces and has the capability of creating a noticeable comfort increase as well as a decrease in utility costs.

Why Add More Insulation?

Adding insulation above the minimum requirements help by:

• Increasing your energy savings (You can save up to 45% on energy costs)
• Providing greater noise control
• controlling moisture which helps your house and roof last longer
• The cost to upgrade insulation is minimal and the benefits are significant

Green Activities to do in Denver

Click Here to explore Green activities to do in Denver.

Existing Homes Study

A study done by Harvard on existing homes found that if the 45 million under-insulated homes in the United States were insulated properly:

• More than 800 trillion BTUs  could be saved each year. 
• More than 240 premature deaths associated with pollution could be prevented.
• 6,500 fewer asthma attacks would occur. 
• The number of restricted activity days would be significantly reduced each year for people with respiratory ailments like allergies and asthma. 

Save Green. Be Green.

According to the Department of Energy, for a typical home your heating and air conditioning costs can be as much as 45% of your home energy costs. Most of that air escapes through your attic if it isn't properly insulated. You increase comfort as well as decreasing costs by adding insulation and air sealing.

What is Air Sealing?

Many homes, especially older ones, have air leaks that allow heated and cooled air to escape when the air pressure differs between the inside and the outside of the home. Because these leaks allow unconditioned air to enter as conditioned air is lost, air leaks can be a significant waste of energy and money. Air leaks also make the house drafty. Many homes have hidden air leaks that require a certified professional to find the leaks and seal them. 35% of the heatloss from your house is from leakage so sealing these areas goes hand in hand with a good insulation job.